Hamas 'admits' murder of teens which sparked Gaza war

Hamas has "admitted" the group kidnapped and murdered three Israeli teenagers whose deaths sparked the current Gaza conflict.

Naftali Frenkel, Gilad Shaar and Eyal Yifrach were found dead more than two weeks after they went missing. Credit: Reuters

Saleh al-Arouri, a Hamas official from the West Bank who lives in exile in Turkey, appeared to confirm the Islamist group were behind the abduction at a press conference in Istanbul.

He told reporters: "There was much speculation about this operation, some said it was a conspiracy.

"The popular will was exercised throughout our occupied land, and culminated in the heroic operation by the Qassam Brigades in imprisoning the three settlers in Hebron," he said, referring to Hamas' armed wing.

Until now Hamas officials have refused to confirm or deny any involvement in the killings of Gilad Shaar and Naftali Fraenkel, both 16, and 19-year-old Eyal Yifrach in June.

Palestinian boy Mohammed Abu Khudair, 16, is said to have been murdered "in revenge."